Yew Varieties

There are over 400 yew cultivars.

Yews (Taxus spp.) are coniferous evergreens that bear needle-like foliage and produce either male or female cones. They are slow growing and long-lived; one specimen in Wales is said to be nearly four thousand years old. In the wild, they tend to be understory plants but can grow in full sun when placed in the home landscape. Yews prefer well drained, slightly acidic soils. All parts of the tree contain poisonous alkaloids, so it may not be the ideal plant in landscapes where children may be tempted to eat the attractive red berries.

North American Yews

The Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia) grows to be about 50 feet tall with great age, and it's found in Pacific Northwest forests. Three varieties are known. "Erecta" (Taxus brevifolia erecta) is a columnar form; "nana" (Taxus brevifolia nana) is a dwarf form; and "nuttalii" (Taxus brevifolia nuttalii) is a drooping form. All are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 10. Both Florida yew (Taxus floridana) and Mexican yew (Taxus globosa) are rare or endangered species, are hardy in USDA zones 8 through 10 and have no known cultivars. Canadian yew (Taxus canadensis) grows to about 8 feet tall and there's only one known cultivar, "Stricta" (Taxus canadensis "Stricta"), which has a columnar habit. Both are hardy in USDA zones 2 though 6.

Asian Yews

Probably the most well known Asian yew is the Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata), a tree that grows from 10 to 40 feet tall. "Aurescens" (Taxus cuspidata "Aurescens") and "Dwarf Bright Gold" (Taxus cuspidata "Dwarf Bright Gold") are varieties with gold new growth and "Capitata" (Taxus cuspidata "Capitata") is broadly pyramidal. "Columnaris" (Taxus cuspidata "Columnaris") has a narrow form, and "Nana" (Taxus cuspidata "Nana") is a dwarf. All grow well in USDA zones 4 through 8. Chinese yew (Taxus chinensis) grows to 40 feet tall and has only one known variety, "mairei" (Taxus chinensis mairei), a variety important in the production of pharmacological products. Both are hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9.

European Yews

The English yew (Taxus baccata), hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8, is also known as the European yew. It grows in Europe, but extends into Asia and Africa as well. The straight species is broadly upright and can reach 35 feet in height. Of the hundreds of varieties, only a handful are common and easy to find in nurseries. The Irish yew (Taxus baccata "Fastigiata") hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9, has a columnar form, and "Repandens" (Taxus baccata "Repandens"), hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, is low-growing. Several varieties bear yellow new growth, such as golden Irish yew (Taxus baccata "Fastigiata Aureomarginata") and "Repens Aurea" (Taxus baccata "Repens Aurea," both hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8, and "Standishii," hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8.

Yew Crosses

Anglojap yew (Taxus x media) is a cross between the English yew and Canadian yew. There are hundreds of varieties, but some cultivars are more common and easy to find. Both "Taunton" (Taxus x media "Tauntonii") and "Densiformis" (Taxus x media "Densiformis") have a spreading habit and are wider than they are tall. "Brownii" (Taxus x media "Brownii") has a round habit, and "Hicks" (Taxus x media "Hicksii") is columnar. Hunnewell yew (Taxus x hunnewelliana) is a cross of the Japanese yew and the Canadian yew, and while not as well known as the Anglojap yew, there are a couple of cultivars available. "Globosa" has a globe shape, while "Richard Horsey" has a dwarf habit. All these yews are hardy in USDA zones 4 through 7.

About the Author

Lori Norris has been writing professionally since 1998, specializing in horticulture. She has written articles for the Oregon Landscape Contractors Association, chapters of the certification manual for the Oregon Association of Nurseries and translated master gardener materials into Spanish. Norris holds a Bachelor of Arts from Linfield College.